Providing improved post-dial delay at an originating terminal

ABSTRACT

To provide expedited ringback at an originating terminal, a call request is sent from the originating terminal to a destination device over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Local resource reservation is performed by the originating terminal after sending the call request. A first message is received by the originating terminal prior to the originating terminal sending a second message indicating that local resource reservation has been performed, the first message for indicating that alerting is being performed at the destination device. In response to receiving the first message and determining that the local resource reservation has been performed, a ringback indicator is generated by the originating terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/664,866, filed Mar. 24, 2005, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to providing improved post-dial delay atan originating terminal.

BACKGROUND

Packet data networks, including wired networks and/or wireless networks,are used to link various types of network devices, such as personalcomputers, network telephones, mobile telephones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), and so forth. A widely used type of packet datanetwork is the Internet Protocol (IP) network, in which datacommunications are performed using packets or datagrams.

With the increased capacity and reliability of packet data networks,voice communications (including telephone calls, video conferencing, andso forth) over such packet data networks have been implemented. Voicecommunications over packet data networks are unlike voice communicationsin a conventional circuit-switched network (such as a public switchedtelephone network), in which users are provided dedicated end-to-endcircuit connections for the duration of each call. In a packet datanetwork, voice data is carried in packets or datagrams that are sent inbursts from a source to one or more destination nodes. Voice data thatis sent over a packet data network typically shares network bandwidthwith conventional non-voice data, such as data associated withelectronic mail, web access, file transfer, text chat sessions, and soforth.

Various standards have been proposed for establishing voice andmultimedia communications over packet data networks. One examplestandard that defines control signaling used for establishing voice andmultimedia communications is the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP),which defines messaging for establishing, controlling, and terminatingmultimedia sessions over a packet data network, such as an IP network.SIP is part of a multimedia data and control architecture developed bythe Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). In packet-switched wirelessnetworks, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and 3GPP2 havedefined standards for SIP call flows. Other organizations have alsodefined SIP call flows for use in wired and/or wireless networks.

SIP is a text-based protocol that defines SIP messages having a textformat, which tends to make SIP messages relatively large in size. As aresult, the increased time involved in communicating SIP messages maycause call setup times to become longer. In addition to larger SIPmessage sizes, another cause of relatively long call setup times is thatmore SIP messages are involved in establishing a call session(particularly when extra messages are sent to provide reliability) thanhas been traditionally the case in circuit-switched networks.

As a result of a relatively long call setup time, there may be excessivedelay between when a caller starts a call (such as by activating the“Send” button on a phone or completion of dialing digits) and when thecaller receives an indication of ringing (ringback that indicates thatthe called party is being alerted). The interval between the time acaller starts a call and the time when ringback is received by thecaller is referred to as post-dial delay (PDD). Excessive PDD can causeuser dissatisfaction. In some cases, a user may simply hang up if thereis excessive PDD, since the user may incorrectly believe that the callhas been dropped when in fact call establishment is proceeding in thepacket data network among various nodes.

SUMMARY

In general, methods and apparatus according to some embodiments provideimproved post-dial delay at an originating terminal.

Other or alternative features will become apparent from the followingdescription, from the drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example communications network thatincorporates an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a message flow diagram of a first process of establishing acall session in which improved (reduced) post-dial delay is provided atan originating terminal, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a message flow diagram of a second process of establishing acall session in which improved post-dial delay is provided to anoriginating terminal, in accordance with another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to providean understanding of the present invention. However, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may bepracticed without these details and that numerous variations ormodifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communications network that includes awireless network 100 that is connected to a packet data network 102.Although reference is made to a “packet data network,” it is to beunderstood that “packet data network” can actually refer to one orplural packet data networks that are coupled by one or more intermediaterouters. For example, the packet data network 102 can actually includevarious different types of networks, such as local area networks (LANs),wide area networks (WANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), and soforth. The wireless network 100 is a packet-switched wireless network inwhich packet-switched communications can be performed (e.g.,packet-switched telephony, web browsing, electronic mail, file transfer,and so forth).

The wireless network 100 allows a mobile terminal 104 to communicatewith network devices on the packet data network 102, such as a terminaldevice 106, or to other devices on wireless network 100. The terminaldevice 106 can be an end user device (such as a network telephone,voice-enabled personal computer, or voice-enabled personal digitalassistant), or alternatively, the terminal device 106 can be a mediagateway that connects the packet data network 102 to a circuit-switchednetwork such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or acircuit-switched wireless network. Instead of or in addition to theterminal device 106, a second packet-switched wireless network can beconnected to the packet data network 102 such that the mobile terminal104 in the wireless network 100 can communicate through the packet datanetwork 102 to another mobile terminal in the second wireless network.

The arrangement of FIG. 1 is provided for purposes of example, sincenumerous other arrangements are possible in other embodiments. Forexample, the wireless network 100 can be omitted and replaced with auser device (such as a network telephone, a voice-enabled personalcomputer, or a voice-enabled personal digital assistant) that is able toestablish a packet-switched telephony call session with the terminaldevice 106 (or other terminal devices).

In accordance with some embodiments, the mobile terminal 104 (or otheruser terminal) is able to establish a packet-switched telephony callsession with the terminal device 106 (or with another terminal device onthe packet data network 102). A packet-switched telephony call sessionrefers to a communications session in which voice data (and possiblyother real-time data such as video data) is exchanged between the twoend terminals, where the voice data (and/or other real-time data) isencapsulated in packets that are communicated through the packet datanetwork 102 and through various access networks (such as the wirelessnetwork 100).

An example protocol that provides for packet-switched communications isthe Internet Protocol (IP). IPv4 (IP version 4) is defined in Requestfor Comments (RFC) 791, entitled “Internet Protocol,” dated September1981; and IPv6 (IP version 6) is described in RFC 2460, entitled“Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification,” dated December1998. In the IP context, a packet-switched telephony call session isreferred to as a “voice-over-IP call session” or “telephony-over-IP callsession.” A packet data network that communicates IP packets is referredto as an IP network.

Various standards exist that define control signaling to be used forestablishing, controlling, and terminating packet-switched telephonycall sessions between end devices coupled to the packet data network102. One example standard is the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Thebase version of SIP is defined in RFC 3261, entitled “SIP: SessionInitiation Protocol,” dated June 2002. Extensions of SIP are defined inother documents, such as RFC 3262, entitled “Reliability of ProvisionalResponses in the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP),” dated June 2002;and RFC 3311, entitled “The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) UPDATEMethod,” dated September 2002.

Other standards have also been proposed for defining control signalingfor packet-switched telephony call sessions. One such other standard isthe H.323 Recommendation from the International Telecommunications Union(ITU). Alternatively, proprietary signaling protocols can be used forestablishing, controlling, and terminating packet-switched callsessions, including versions of SIP that include proprietary messages.In the context of the present application, reference to “SIP” refers tostandard SIP, extensions of SIP, as well as any modified versions ofSIP, whether proprietary or public.

SIP messages have a text format, which tends to make SIP messagesrelatively large in size. Also, to provide for enhanced reliability,there may be a relatively large number of SIP messages exchanged betweenan originating terminal and a destination device when establishing apacket-switched telephony call session. Consequently, in some cases,post-dial delay associated with packet-switched telephony call sessionestablishment can be quite large. The post-dial delay is the interval oftime between a caller starting a call session, such as by activating a“Send” button, completing the dialing of telephone number digits, oractivating a control element in a graphical user interface (GUI), andthe time when the originating terminal generates a ringback indicator. Aringback indicator refers to a ringing indication (or other indication)that indicates the destination device is being alerted or is in theprocess of being alerted. The destination device is “being alerted” whenthe destination device (or network infrastructure associated with thedestination device) either (1) has provided the alert to the calledparty, or (2) is in the process of causing the alert to be generated, inresponse to a call request from the originating terminal.

Various SIP signaling flows being considered by standards, such as 3GPP(Third Generation Partnership Project) and 3GPP2 standards, typicallyuse a “precondition” mechanism. The precondition mechanism refers to useof a field in the SIP Invite message (the field being“Require:precondition” in one example implementation) that indicatesvarious bearer resources at the originating end and at the destinationend have to be reserved prior to completion of call establishment (andprovision of a ringback indicator at the originating terminal). Forexample, in the wireless context, the resources that have to be reservedinclude various wireless resources (such as radio resources) and soforth. Conventionally, use of the precondition mechanism requires twoend-to-end roundtrip message exchanges of control messages to establisha call. The first exchange typically involves a SIP Invite/183 Progressmessage pair that allows exchange of media preferences, in whichpreconditions are indicated as not being met. The Invite message is acall request to indicate that the destination device is being invited toparticipate in the call session. The 183 Progress message (a sessionprogress message) is used to convey information about the progress ofthe call that is not otherwise classified.

After each end (originating end and terminating end) completesreservation of bearer resources, a second exchange of messages involvesa SIP Update/200 OK message pair used to communicate that thepreconditions have been satisfied (a fulfilled precondition status) foreach end, which confirms bearer path availability. The SIP Updatemessage allows a client (such as the originating terminal) to updateparameters of a session (e.g., indicate that resource reservation hascompleted). The SIP 200 OK message is used to indicate that a requesthas succeeded.

For devices that do not support the precondition mechanism, an alternatetechnique of ensuring that local resources have been reserved prior tocompletion of call establishment involves the exchange of messages thatcontain a Session Description Protocol (SDP) attribute that indicateswhether a media stream is inactive or active. The initial SIP Invitemessage is sent with the SDP attribute (a=inactive) set to indicate thatthe media stream is inactive. After a response message to the Invitemessage, a second exchange of messaging involves sending messages withthe SDP attribute set to indicate the media stream is active (a=active),which is an indication that local resource reservation has beencompleted. However, even with this alternative technique, two roundtripexchanges of messages containing the SDP attribute is performed prior tocompletion of call establishment (and provision of a ringback indicatorby the originating terminal).

In either of the scenarios described above, the provision of a ringbackat the originating terminal can be substantially delayed, resulting in along post-dial delay. In accordance with some embodiments, to enhanceuser experience and satisfaction and to avoid a user prematurely endinga call by hanging up when the user does not hear a ringback indicatorfor some time, a mechanism to reduce the delay of a ringback isprovided. In accordance with some embodiments, rather than waiting fortwo roundtrip exchanges of messages before ringback can occur, theringback is provided without having to wait for the second roundtripexchange of messages to first confirm reservation of local resources.

In general, reduced (improved) post-dial delay is achieved by theoriginating terminal performing resource reservation after sending acall request, and the originating terminal receiving a ring message fromthe destination device, and then the originating terminal providingringback prior to the originating terminal sending a message (such as anupdate message) to indicate that local resource reservation has beenperformed at the originating terminal. A “ring message” refers to amessage for indicating that a destination device is being alerted. An“update message” refers to a message used to update parameters of acall. Examples of the ring message and update message include the SIPRinging and SIP Update messages, respectively. Note, however, that othertypes of messages can be used in other embodiments. For example, theupdate message can be implemented with a SIP PRACK message (aprovisional acknowledge message).

The ringback indicator is generated by the originating terminal inresponse to the ring message and in response to determining that localresource reservation at the originating terminal has been completed.Note that the ring message that is received prior to a second roundtripexchange of messages relating to confirmation of local resources is anearly ring message. An “early ring message” refers to a ring messagethat is sent by a destination device prior to the destination deviceactually being ready to generate the alert at the destination device.The destination device is ready to generate the alert at the destinationdevice after the destination device receives a message from theoriginating terminal that confirms local resource reservation at theoriginating terminal. The ringback indicator can thus be generatedearlier before the second roundtrip of messages for confirming localresource reservation, which reduces post-dial delay to enhance the userexperience in establishing a packet-switched telephony call session.

As further depicted in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 104 performs wirelesscommunications (e.g., radio frequency communications) with an accesspoint (AP) 108. The access point 108 (sometimes referred to as a basetransceiver station) is part of a cell segment (either a cell or a cellsector). The wireless network 100 includes multiple cell segments inwhich mobile terminals can communicate with respective access pointsover radio frequency (RF) links.

The access point 108 is coupled to a radio network controller (RNC) 110(sometimes referred to as a base station controller or BSC). In someimplementations, the wireless network 100 is a CDMA 2000 network, suchas a 1xRTT network or a 1xEVDO or 1xEVDV network. Other types ofnetworks, such as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)networks can also be employed in other implementations. The RNC 110supports packet-switched communications in which packet data iscommunicated between the mobile terminal 104 and another endpoint. TheRNC 110 is coupled to a packet data serving node (PDSN) 112. The RNC 110supports packet data services through the PDSN 112, which in turn isconnected to the packet data network 102. Call establishment using SIPin packet-switched wireless networks has been defined by 3GPP (for UMTSnetworks) and 3GPP2 (for CDMA 2000 networks).

FIG. 1 also depicts a first proxy/control function module 114. The firstproxy/control function module 114 includes a proxy component that makesrequests on behalf of a client, such as the mobile terminal 104 when themobile terminal 104 is involved in establishing a packet-switchedtelephony call session (either as an originator or a destination). Thecontrol function aspect of the module 114 provides session control toenable clients such as the mobile terminal 104 to access services in aparticular network. An example of the proxy/control function module 114is the call session control function (CSCF) module that is part of theIP multimedia subsystem (IMS) architecture. Note that there can beseveral types of CSCF modules, including a proxy CSCF, an interrogatingCSCF, and a serving CSCF. The proxy/control function module 114 canrefer to any one of or some combination of these CSCFs. In otherimplementations, the proxy/control function module 114 can be othertypes of control modules involved in call establishment involving themobile terminal 104.

FIG. 1 also depicts a second proxy/control function module 116 that issimilar to the first proxy/control function module 114, except that thesecond proxy/control function module 116 is associated with the terminaldevice 106 (instead of with mobile terminal 104). In an example wherethe mobile terminal 104 is the originating terminal, and the terminaldevice 106 is the destination terminal, the first proxy/control functionmodule 114 is considered the originator's proxy/control function module,while the second proxy/control function module 116 is considered theterminator's proxy/control function module. More generally, theproxy/control function modules can be simply referred to as “callcontrol function modules.”

The mobile terminal 104 has a display 120 and an audio speaker 122 (aswell as a microphone, not shown). In accordance with some embodiments,the audio speaker 122 is used for outputting an audio ringbackindicator, while the display 120 can be used for displaying a visualringback indicator. The display 120 and the audio speaker 122 areexamples of an output device that is used to present the ringbackindicator. The mobile terminal 104 also includes a controller 124 and astorage 126. The controller 124 is used for controlling variousfunctions of the mobile terminal 104. The controller 124 can beimplemented with various types of control devices, such asmicrocontrollers, microprocessors, digital signal processors, and soforth. The storage 126 is used for storing data and instruction codethat can be executed on the controller 124.

The terminal device 106 similarly includes a controller 128 and astorage 130. If the terminal device 106 is an end user device, then theterminal device 106 also includes an audio speaker 132 for outputtingaudio signals, such as an alert signal (when a call is made to theterminal device). If the terminal device 106 is a media gateway (ratherthan an end user terminal), then the audio speaker 132 is not includedin the terminal device 106, but rather the terminal device 106 providessome indication to a remote end user device to generate an alert.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for establishing a packet-switchedtelephony call session according to some embodiments. The flow diagramof FIG. 2 involves the communication of SIP messages among variousnodes, including an originating terminal (e.g., mobile terminal 104), adestination device (e.g., terminal device 106), and the call controlfunction modules 114, 116. In a different scenario, one or both of thecall control function modules 114, 116 can be omitted. Also note thatvarious messages that are typically exchanged (such as the SIP Tryingmessage and other messages) are omitted in FIG. 2 for the purpose ofbetter clarity.

To initiate the packet-switched telephony call session, the originatingterminal transmits (at 202) a SIP Invite message to the call controlfunction module 114. The Invite message is sent by the originatingterminal in response to user activation of some call control element atthe originating terminal (such as a “Send” button, completion of dialingof digits corresponding to a called telephone number, activation of agraphical user interface (GUI) element indicating initiation of a callrequest, and so forth). The Invite message indicates that thedestination device is being invited to participate in the call session.The message body of the Invite message contains a description (e.g., anSDP description) of the session to which the destination device is beinginvited. The description in the Invite message may also indicatepreconditions that have to be satisfied, such as reservation of localresources. Examples of local resource reservation include reservation ofbearer resources (e.g., radio resources), packet data protocol (PDP)context activations, quality of service (QoS) reservations, and soforth.

In response to the Invite message, the call control function module 114forwards an Invite message (at 204) to the destination call controlfunction module 116, which in turn sends (at 206) an Invite message tothe destination device. In accordance with some embodiments, uponreceiving the Invite message at 206, the destination device starts (at208) local resource reservation (as specified in the SDP description ofthe Invite message) at the destination device. Also, in response to theInvite message, the destination device returns (at 210) a 183 Progressmessage to the destination call control function module 116. The 183Progress message is used to indicate some kind of progress is occurringat the destination device. In response to the 183 Progress message at210, the destination call control function module 116 sends a 183Progress message (at 212) to the originating call control functionmodule 114, which in turn sends a 183 Progress message (at 214) to theoriginating terminal. Upon receipt of the 183 Progress message at 214,the originating terminal starts (or completes if already started) localresource reservation (at 216).

Reference is made herein to the originating terminal and destinationdevice sending messages to or receiving messages from each other. Notethat the terms “to” and “from” are used to indicate direct or indirectsending or receipt of messages between the originating terminal anddestination device. For example, the originating terminal can send amessage to the destination device either directly or indirectly throughintermediate nodes such as modules 114 and 116.

Once local resource reservation has completed (at 218) at thedestination device, the destination device sends a 180 Ringing message(at 220) to the destination call control function module 116, which inturn causes 180 Ringing messages to be forwarded back (at 222, 224) tothe originating call control function module 114 and originatingterminal, respectively. The 180 Ringing message is an indication thatthe destination device is alerting a called party. However, inaccordance with some embodiments, although the 180 Ringing message issent at 220 by the destination device, called party alert is actuallynot occurring at the destination device. This is because the destinationdevice is waiting for some acknowledgment from the originating terminalthat resource reservation has completed at the originating terminal,such that “ghost ringing” does not occur at the destination device.Ghost ringing refers to a false alert generated at the originatingterminal or destination device in a scenario where local resources atthe originating terminal or destination device fail to be reserved forthe bearer or media path. Thus, in accordance with some embodiments,although a ring message (e.g., the 180 Ringing message) has been sent bythe destination device, alerting of the called party is not beingperformed since the destination device is not yet ready to perform thealert. The early transmission of the ring message by the destinationdevice is to enable earlier or expedited ringback at the originatingterminal.

The originating terminal starts resource reservation (at 216) (orcompletes resource reservation if already started) upon receiving the183 Progress message. When resource reservation is completed (at 226) atthe originating terminal and the 180 Ringing message has been received(in either order), a ringback indicator is generated (at 228) by theoriginating terminal. The ringback indicator can be an audio indicator(such as a ring) or a visual indicator to indicate that ringing isoccurring at the destination device (in other words, the called party isbeing alerted). Note, however, that ringing has in fact not occurred yetat the destination device when the ringback indicator is generated (at228) at the originating terminal.

Once local resource reservation is completed (at 226) at the originatingterminal, the originating terminal sends (at 230) a PRACK message forthe 180 Ringing message to the destination terminal for reliabilitypurposes. The PRACK message contains an indication that local resourcereservation has been completed at the originating terminal. In thiscontext, the PRACK message is used as the update message referred toabove. In response to the PRACK message at 230, the call controlfunction module 114 and the call control function module 116 send (at232, 234) PRACK messages, respectively, with the PRACK message sent at234 received by the destination device.

In response to receiving the PRACK message, the destination devicegenerates (at 236) an alert to the user of the destination device. 200OK messages are sent (at 238, 240, 242) by the destination device,destination call control function module 116, and originating callcontrol function module 114, respectively, in response to the PRACKmessages. When the user answers (at 244) at the destination device(e.g., such as by taking the destination device off-hook), 200 OKmessages are sent (at 246, 248, 250) by the destination device,destination call control function module 116, and originating callcontrol function module 114, respectively, to acknowledge the Invitemessage, which indicates that the Invite request (or call request) hassucceeded.

In response to the 200 OK message received at 250, the originatingterminal sends (at 252) an ACK message which is an acknowledgment of the200 OK message received at 250. In turn, the originating call controlfunction module 114 and destination call control function module 116send (at 254, 256, respectively) ACK messages, with the ACK message at256 received by the destination device. The bearer path is established(at 258) between the originating terminal and destination device inresponse to the OK message received at 250.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative message flow for establishing a callsession. Messages that are identical to messages transmitted in themessage flow diagram of FIG. 2 share the same reference numerals. Thus,the initial exchange of messages, including Invite, 183 Progress, and180 Ringing, among the nodes is identical. However, one differencebetween the message flow of FIG. 2 and the message flow of FIG. 3 isthat a PRACK message is sent (at 300) in response to the 180 Ringingmessage at 224 that is received by the originating terminal. The PRACKmessage sent at 300 is provided to satisfy the requirement that PRACK isto be transmitted by the originating terminal within some minimum timeperiod after receipt of 180 Ringing. In response to the PRACK message at300, the originating call control function module 114 and destinationcall control function module 116 send (at 302, 304, respectively) PRACKmessages, with the PRACK message at 304 received by the destinationdevice. In response to the PRACK message, 200 OK messages are sent (at306, 308, 310) by the destination device, destination call controlfunction module 116, and originating call control function module 114,respectively.

Upon completion of local resource reservation (at 226) by theoriginating terminal, the originating terminal generates (at 228) aringback indicator (similar to the FIG. 2 embodiment) and sends (at 312)a SIP Update message (which is different from the FIG. 2 embodiment).The SIP Update message allows a client (such as the originatingterminal) to update parameters of a session, such as to indicate thatlocal resource reservation has completed. In response to the Updatemessage at 312, the originating call control function module 114 sendsan Update message (at 314) to the destination call control functionmodule 116, which in turn sends (at 316) an Update message to thedestination device. Upon receipt of the Update message at 316, thedestination device generates an alert (at 236) to the user of thedestination device. 200 OK messages are sent (at 318, 320, 322) toacknowledge the Update messages 312, 314, 316. When the user answers (at244), 200 OK message are sent (at 246, 248, 250). The remaining callflow is identical to the FIG. 2 call flow.

Note that the call flows depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 are provided forpurposes of example. In other embodiments, many other call flows can beemployed while still falling within the scope of the invention.

By using the message flow of either FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 (or some other callflow), an expedited ringback indicator is provided upon receipt of anearly ring message from the destination device and completion of localresource reservation at the originating terminal. The expedited ringbackindicator is generated prior to the originating terminal sending out amessage (such as PRACK at 230 or Update at 312) indicating that localresource reservation has been completed at the originating terminal.Consequently, the originating terminal does not have to wait for asecond round-trip of messages relating to confirmation of local resourcereservation to generate the ringback indicator. This reduces thepost-dial delay between initiation of the call (by sending the Invitemessage) and generation of the ringback indicator.

Instructions of various software modules (e.g., software modulesexecuted in the mobile terminal 104 or terminal device 106 of FIG. 1 toperform the various tasks described herein) are loaded for execution oncorresponding processors (e.g., controller 124 or 128 in FIG. 1).Processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, processor modulesor subsystems (including one or more microprocessors ormicrocontrollers), or other control or computing devices. As used here,a “control module” refers to hardware, software, or a combinationthereof. A “control module” can refer to a single component or to pluralcomponents (whether software or hardware).

Data and instructions (of the software) are stored in respective storagedevices (e.g., storage 126 or 130 in FIG. 1), which are implemented asone or more machine-readable or computer-readable storage media. Thestorage media include different forms of memory including semiconductormemory devices such as dynamic or static random access memories (DRAMsor SRAMs), erasable and programmable read-only memories (EPROMs),electrically erasable and programmable read-only memories (EEPROMS) andflash memories; magnetic disks such as fixed, floppy and removabledisks; other magnetic media including tape; and optical media such ascompact disks (CDs) or digital video disks (DVDs).

While some embodiments have been disclosed with respect to a limitednumber of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerousmodifications and variations there from. It is intended that theappended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method to provide improved post-dial delay at an originatingterminal, comprising: sending a call request from the originatingterminal to a destination device over an Internet Protocol (IP) network;performing local resource reservation by the originating terminal aftersending the call request; receiving an early ring message by theoriginating terminal prior to the originating terminal sending a secondmessage indicating that the local resource reservation has beenperformed, wherein the early ring message is sent by the destinationdevice even though the destination device is not yet ready to provide analert at the destination device in response to the call request; inresponse to receiving the early ring message and determining that thelocal resource reservation has been performed, generating a ringbackindicator by the originating terminal; and in response to determiningthat the local resource reservation has been performed, sending thesecond message toward the destination device.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein performing local resource reservation by the originatingterminal comprises performing wireless network resource reservation bythe originating terminal.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein receivingthe early ring message comprises receiving a Session Initiation Protocol(SIP) Ringing message, and wherein sending the second message comprisessending a SIP Update message.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving the early ring message comprises receiving a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) Ringing message, and wherein sending thesecond message comprises sending a SIP WRACK message.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein receiving the early ring message comprises receiving aring message that is initiated on behalf of the destination device priorto the destination device receiving the second message indicating thatthe local resource reservation has been performed.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein sending the second message to the destination devicecauses the destination device to alert a called party.
 7. An articlecomprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcontaining instructions that when executed cause a destination deviceto: receive a call request from an originating terminal to establish apacket-switched call session over an Internet Protocol network; inresponse to receiving the call request, performing local resourcereservation by the destination device; upon completion of the localresource reservation by the destination device, send an early ringmessage to the originating terminal to enable expedited ringback at theoriginating terminal, the early ring message being sent prior toreceiving a second message from the originating terminal indicating thatlocal resource reservation by the originating terminal has beencompleted, and the early ring message being sent even though thedestination device is not yet ready to provide an alert at thedestination device in response to the call request; and receive thesecond message that is sent by the originating terminal in response tothe completion of local resource reservation by the originatingterminal.
 8. The article of claim 7, wherein the instructions whenexecuted cause the destination device to further generate the alert inresponse to receiving the second message.
 9. The article of claim 8,wherein the second message comprises one of a Session InitiationProtocol (SIP) PRACK message and a SIP Update message.
 10. The articleof claim 7, wherein receiving the call request comprises receiving thecall request that contains a precondition relating to reservation oflocal resources.
 11. The article of claim 10, wherein receiving the callrequest comprises receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invitemessage.
 12. The article of claim 7, wherein receiving the call requestcomprises receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite message,wherein sending the early ring message comprises sending a SIP Ringingmessage, and wherein the second message comprises one of a SIP PRACKmessage and an SIP Update message.
 13. A terminal comprising: an outputdevice for outputting a ringback indicator; and at least one processorto: send a call request to a destination device over an InternetProtocol (IP) network; perform local resource reservation at theterminal after sending the call request; receive an early ring messageprior to the terminal sending a second message indicating that the localresource reservation has been performed, the early ring message sent bythe destination device even though the destination device is not yetready to provide the alert at the destination device in response to thecall request; in response to receiving the early ring message anddetermining that the local resource reservation has been performed,generate the ringback indicator; and in response to completing the localresource reservation, send the second message toward the destinationdevice.
 14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the second messagecomprises an update message.
 15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein thelocal resource reservation comprises local wireless resourcereservation.
 16. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the call requestcomprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite message, the earlyring message comprises a SIP Ringing message, and the second messagecomprises one of a SIP PRACK and SIP Update message.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the destination device is ready to provide the alertupon receipt of the second message.
 18. The method of claim 1, whereinthe local resource reservation by the originating terminal comprises oneor more of reservation of banner resources, packet data protocol contextactivation, and quality of service reservation.
 19. The terminal ofclaim 13, wherein the destination device is ready to provide the alertupon receipt of the second message.
 20. The terminal of claim 13,wherein the local resource reservation at the terminal comprises one ormore of reservation bearer resources, packet data protocol contextactivation, and quality of service reservation.